Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (17:22): I too rise to speak on this report. As the chair has said, it arose as a result of invasions on farms by animal activists and also as a result of extraordinary $1 fines given out to people that were convicted of stealing property and livestock from farms. During the inquiry we heard extraordinarily distressing evidence from many farmers who had their lives and businesses disrupted, even ended, by threatening invasions, sometimes by balaclava-clad activists. To farmers, their farms are their homes, and it is inconceivable to believe anyone has the right to invade anyone else’s private space, including their business.

As Ms Bath has said, the report does not adequately deal with the issue that we were asked to address, and consequently it was important that we produced a minority report to clearly put the case on behalf of farmers. This farming community add exponentially to the Victorian economy. It is inconceivable that they can be disrupted in this way. They ought to be flourishing, encouraged and made far more viable rather than having obstacles put in their path by animal activists. I commend the report to the house.